Vacuum drainage collecting apparatus with disposable liner

ABSTRACT

A collecting apparatus for drainage from the body of a patient after severe wounding of or surgery performed on the patient, embodying a canister and a disposable receiver for the drainage, such apparatus having means for connecting the same in a vacuum or suction system to stimulate drainage of the wound in the patient.

United States Patent Pannier, Jr. et al.

[451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] VACUUM DRAINAGE COLLECTING APPARATUS WITHDISPOSABLE LINER [72] Inventors: Karl A. Pannier, Jr.; Gordon S.

Reynolds; James L. Sorenson, all of Salt Lake City, Utah [73] Assignee:Le Voys Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1968 [21]App1.No.: 778,963

[52] US. Cl. ..l28/276 [51] Int. Cl.. ..A6lf 5/44 [58] Field of Search..128/275-278, 283

['56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,597,715 5/1952 Erikson..128/276 Schurer ..128/276 3,032,037 5/1962 Huber 128/276 3,089,493 5/1963 Galindo ..l28/283 3,186,410 6/1965 Buono ..128/275 3,363,626 1/1968 Bidwell et a1. .128/276 3,381,687 5/1968 Andersen et a1 ..128/276Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni,Gross & Simpson 5 7] ABSTRACT A collecting apparatus for drainage fromthe body of a patient after severe wounding of or surgery performed onthe patient, embodying a canister and a disposable receiver for thedrainage, such apparatus having means for connecting the same in avacuum or suction system to stimulate drainage of the wound in thepatient.

20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 1'97? 3.680.560

sum 1 OF 3 60200 .5 Pam/mas PATENTEDwc 1 mm sum 3 or 3 I A AeL 4EWV/V/Efi e.

VACUUM DRAINAGE COLLECTING APPARATUS WITH DISPOSABLE LINER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention or discoverypertains to the art of surgery, and more particularly to a new type ofreceptor for receiving drainage from a patient suffering from a severewound, excess of fluid, etc., the receptor having means for connectingthe same in a vacuum system, and embodying a canister in which is adisposable liner to receive the drainage and after the liner is filledto a desired level, it is removed from the canister and discarded, a newliner being substituted.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known that where a patienthas received a wound, accidentally or by surgical incision, which hasentered a lung, passed through the peritoneum, had a breast removed, forexample, drainage of blood, pus, excess liquid, and various exudatesfrom the wound or its vicinity is indicated to enhance the patientsrecovery rate and shorten convalescence. The most effective anddesirable way of accomplishing this drainage is to connect a receptor ina vacuum line and remove the drainage from the patients body by suction.Heretofore, the only receptor for the drainage has been a plastic orglass bottle or container equipped with fittings for connecting the sameto a tube leading from the patients body, to a suction or vacuum system,to permit draining some of the contents of the container if desired, andother purposes, which receptor must be removed, cleansed, and reused.The cleansing of such a receptor is a most laborious and messyoperation, and the changing and cleansing of the receptor places anextreme burden upon the nurses, other hospital workers, and thesterilization facilities in the hospital. Spreading of infection is aconstant hazard in such an operation. The time, labor and care necessaryin such an operation is so great that the cost per suction receptorrises to a tremendous amount, and some patients require the use of asmany as to receptors during a single hospital stay. Thus, it is at onceapparent that the procedure heretofore found essential in connectionwith drainage receptors was highly objectionable both to hospital and tothe patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention provides drainagecollecting apparatus in the form of a receptor embodying a canister anda removable drainage receiving liner for the canister. The drainagereceiving liner is very economical in construction, simple to remove andreplace, which operation can be accomplished by anyone and which shouldrequire but a very few minutes, there being no real labor involved. Thecanister need not even be washed and there is nothing to sterilize, thedrainage being fully contained within the liner and discarded therewith.The attendant does not contact any surface that was contacted by thedrainage. Scales on the face of the canister indicate the time when aliner must be changed for a new one, there being a plurality of scalesso that the same canister may accommodate a plurality of sizes ofliners, it only being necessary to read the proper scale for a certainsize of liner. Means are provided for very simply sealing the linerairtightly within the canister, connecting the liner to a tube leadingfrom the patients body, connecting the interior of the canister to avacuum system, and a drainage tube is also provided for the liner. Inone form of the invention, within the liner a tube for drainage overlapsin length with the tube leading from the patients body so that aneffective water seal is easily established. The entire structure iseconomical and the canister, of course is repeatedly used. It can beseen therefore that the instant invention has solved the problems andobjections of the prior apparatus and procedure, as mentioned above, ina most efficient, economical, and effective manner. Labor on the part ofhospital attendants and use of the sterilization equipment is avoidedand the hazard of infection eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acanister and liner assembled ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a reduced diagrammatic view illustrating the drainagecollection apparatus of FIG. 1 in operative association with a patientand a vacuum system;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the structure ofFIG. 1, with a part shown in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a part-sectional part-elevational view illustrating theremoval of a filled liner from the canister;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a canister and liner of a somewhatdifferent form, but also embodying principles of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the structure ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the valve and housingin the upper right-hand portion of FIG. 6, but showing the same enclosedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As stated above, the instantdrainage collecting apparatus embodies two major parts, a canister and aremovable liner or drainage receiver, generally indicated by numerals land 2 respectively.

In the first embodiment of this invention, seen in FIGS. 1 through 4,the canister proper comprises the tubular body 3 fixedly connected to abottom 4, both parts preferably being of transparent rigid plasticmaterial. The bottom 4 is provided with a central aperture 5, thesurrounding edge of which is chamfered on both sides as indicated at 6to insure an effective airtight seal with the bottom portion of theliner receiver 2, as seen best in FIG. 3. One side of the body 3 isprovided with a plurality of scales to denote the amount of drainagewithin the liner receiver 2, FIG. 1, there being two such scales shownin the drawing namely a smaller scale 7 for a small liner and a largerscale 8 for a large liner. Two liners, one for a child and for an adultwill usually be all that is necessary, the instant illustrationsdepicting a smaller liner so scale 7 would be utilized whereas if alarger liner that would expand to the inside wall of the canister wereused, scale 8 would be read.

As seen best in FIG. 3, a cover 9 is provided for the canister, whichcover is of thicker, yet rigid plastic material, preferably, and whichcover need not be transparent. This cover can merely be pressed into theupper end of the canister and an airtight seal therebetween isestablished by an O-ring 10 or in an equivalent manner. Permanently andairtightly secured to the cover through a suitable aperture therein isan angular tube 11, preferably of rigid transparent plastic material,which may be connected to a vacuum or suction system.

The liner or receiver 2 is preferably formed entirely of thermoplasticmaterial, with the single exception of the filter medium in a small airfilter, and various parts thereof are preferably connected together byfusing or electronic heat sealing, although suitable adhesive materialscould also be utilized. While the making of this liner 2 of plasticmaterial is not essential, it is more economical, more efficient, lightin weight, and easier to assemble than with most other materials. Also,it would not be injured if dropped on the floor as would be a materialsuch as glass.

This liner 2 comprises a tubular body 12, a top 13, and a bottom 14fully enclosed except for essential openings through the top and bottom.With reference more particularly to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a shortplastic tube 15 extends through a suitable aperture in the cover 13 andis airtightly secured to the cover 13. This short tube contains aplasticcasing 16 open at the bottom and top, and containing a filtermedium 17 such as cotton or the equivalent. Communication between theinterior of the liner 2 and the interior of the canister l isestablished by way of the tube 15 and the air filter therein. No othercommunication between the canister 1 and liner 2 is possible duringoperation of the apparatus. A second and preferably rigid tube 18extends from a point near the bottom of the liner 2 just through thecover thereof, where the end of the tube is telescopically receivedwithin a flexible plastic tube 19 and securely attached to the tube 19and the top cover 13 of the liner. A removable elbow tube 20 of rigidplastic has an inner tapered end 21 which passes through a suitableaperture in the canister cover 9 and may be telescopically andairtightly engaged with the aforesaid flexible tube 19 as seen at 22 inFIG. 3. The tube 20 is expendable, may readily be removed from the linerand discarded therewith after usage.

A cup-shaped seal 23 is attached to the bottom of the liner centrallythereof, and this seal is made of thicker plastic than the liner, and aplastic providing a relatively soft outer surface that is not as smoothas the surfaces of the plastic tubes. This sealing cup when engagedwithin the chamfered edge 6 at the bottom of the canister as seen inFIG. 3 establishes an airtight seal between the liner and canisterbottom. Drain means for the liner are provided in the way of a flexibletube 24 in end to end relationship with a rigid tube 25, both tubesbeing secured together and to the sealing cup and bottom of the liner byway of a suitable sleeve 26 extending through both the sealing cup andliner bottom. The tube extends upwardly inside the liner a predetermineddistance from the bottom thereof but above the lower end of theaforesaid tube 18. The overlapping end portions of the tubes 18 and 25provides the requirements necessary for an effective water sea] asindicated by the level in FIG. 3, and the rigidity of the tubes 18 and25 prevent accidental maladjustment that would adversely affect thewater seal. The water level is just below the upper end of the tube 25and corresponds with the lower unnumbered line 27 beneath the canisterscales 7 and 8, FIG. 1. Water seals of the type shown in FIG. 3 arecustomarily utilized in apparatus for the main purpose of preventing anyinadvertent flow of air to the body of the patient so no bacteria couldbe carried back to the patient should this accident occur. Normally,during usage, a clamp 28 is secured to the flexible tube 24 to preventdrainage therethrough. This clamp may be released when drainage isdesired for any reason.

At the outset a hospital or the like may purchase a canister and lidassembly therefor, which is retained for continued and repeated usage,and a supply of liners with an inlet tube 20 packaged with each liner ina sterile condition. Thereafter, only liners need be purchased for usewith that single canister, and, if desired, the hospital may purchase asupply of canisters and keep a stock of liners of different sizes onhand which may be used with any of the canisters.

In use, the instant invention is extremely economical, labor saving andefficient. The apparatus may be simply and easily assembled for usage.While the steps mentioned herein need not be followed in precisely thesame order, perhaps the simplest procedure for assembling the apparatusis to take the liner and inlet tube 20 therefor out of its wrapper,insert the inlet tube in the cover of the canister and thentelescopically and airtightly attach the flexible tube 19 from the linerto the inlet tube on the underside of the cover. The liner may then becarried by the cover and disposed within .the canister with the draintube 24 of the liner passing through the opening 5 in the bottom of thecanister and the clamp 28 may be placed on the drain tube outside thecanister. The lid is replaced on the canister in an airtight position,and a pull on the drain tube from below the canister will effectivelyestablish an airtight connection between the sealing cup 23 and thechamfered edge 6 defining the opening 5, the diameter of the sealing cup23 being very slightly greater than the diameter of the opening 5. Theapparatus may then be mounted on a stand 29, as illustrated in FIG. 2,or on any other suitable apparatus, and water put into the liner throughthe tube 20 and tube 18 until the proper level of water seal isestablished. The tube 20 may then be connected to a tube or catheter 30leading from the body of a patient 31, and the tube 11 carried by thecanister cover 9 is connected with a tube 32 plugged into a vacuum orsuction system connection 33 in the wall of the hospital room. 1

Suction may then be started, and air will first be withdrawn from thecanister, by virtue of the resistance provided by the air filter in thetube 15 connected to the liner, and the liner will then expand due tothe pressure differential and air will be drawn from the interior of theliner until the vacua of the flexible liner and the canister arecountervailed, whereupon the liner will remain expanded.

Exudates will then be drawn from the patients body into the liner. Whenthe liner has collected a sufficient amount of fluid, the scale 7 on thecanister being utilized for the liner illustrated owing to its smallsize as stated above, and then the suction may be temporarily stopped,the liner removed and replaced with a new liner.

This operation is extremely simple. It is simply necessary to put aclamp on the tube 30 from the patients body, and either before or afterremoving the cover 9 from the canister pull the tube 20 through thecanister cover thus disconnecting this tube from the flexible tube 19 onthe liner. It is not necessary to disconnect the tube 11 from thissuction line. The tube 20 may be then disconnected from the tube 30 anddiscarded completely. The operator may then pinch the tube 19 on theliner between his thumb and finger or clamp the tube as indicated at 34in FIG. 4. This tube may then be used to lift the liner out of thecanister, a simple push of a finger on the sealing cup 23 beingsufficient to disconnect the liner from the canister at that point. Theliner is then removed and discarded either before or after beingdrained, according to the desire of the operator and a new liner andtube 20 being assembled with the canister in the manner above described.

Alternatively, the liner may be removed from the canister by means of anupstanding plastic loop 35 secured to the top 13 of the liner in theevent the operator does not wish to touch the tube 19 for any reason.This loop 35 also serves as a hanger for the liner in the event it isused without the canister.

There is no washing of the canister for reusage since it has not becomecontaminated and the discarded liner is of little bulk and is easilydisposed of without contamination of the operator, the patient, or theenvironment and the whole operation requires an exceedingly small amountof labor.

The instant invention may have other uses and purposes as will beapparent to one skilled in the art. For example, it has long beenconsidered desirable, if possible, where a patient loses a lot ofhealthy blood during an operation to collect as much of that blood aspossible and use it for a transfusion into the same patient, since onepersons own blood is more acceptable to that person than the blood ofanother person, even though they are both of the same type. The instantapparatus could well be utilized as a collector for that healthy blood,and the transfusion thereof back into the patient could be made throughthe drain tube in the bottom of the liner. It is understood of coursethat the blood would be provided with the necessary additives andfiltered on the way from the patient to the canister and liner thereinalthough the necessary additives might well be added to the blood whilein the canister or liner through the tube 20.

For certain usages and hospital installations, a waterseal and drain atthe bottom of the liner receiver may not be needed, and accordingly theliner may be constructed with a closed bottom, the long tube 18, and thetubing 24 and along with the seal 23 being omitted. Also in many casesit is desirable to have an arrangement eliminating any possibility ofcontamination during connecting or disconnecting of the suction and bodytubing and in removing and replacing the canister cover.

To this end, we have illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 a modified form ofthe instant invention that is safer to the operator againstcontamination even when carelessly handled and which eliminates some ofthe plumbing between the lid and bag as previously described herein.

In this instance, canister 36 is utilized, this canister having a fullyclosed bottom 37 and in other respects is like the canister 1 previouslydescribed. A canister cover 38, which differs distinctly from the cover9 above described, is provided with a downwardly turned flange 38a tointimately fit over the upper margin of the wall at the opened end ofthe canister. This cover is preferably molded of plastic material asshown, and the fittings associated with that cover are either moldedalong with the cover or fused thereto; although the cover might be madeof thin metal and the essential fittings adhesively or equivocallysecured thereto. These fittings including a tube 39 extending throughthe cover in an intermediate location, which tube is for connection tothe tube or catheter 30 leading from the body of the patient 31, as seenin FIG. 2. Another externally projecting tubular fitting 40 having abase portion 41 of enlarged size is also secured to the cover in aposition such that the base portion 41 will be immediately adjacent thecanister wall just to the inside thereof, as seen in FIG. 6. This base41 is provided with a pair of downwardly divergent passagestherethrough, namely an outer passage 42 and an inner passage 43, bothof which open through the cover 38. The tube 40 is for connection to thevacuum line 32.

For disposition within the canister 36 is a thin flexible plasticreceiver 44 of the same material as the hereinabove described receiver2. The receiver 44, however, is provided with an entirely closed bottom45 while the top end of the receiver is initially entirely open. Themargin around the opened end of the liner or receiver 44 is folded overas indicated at 46 in FIG. 6 and is firmly secured to the underside ofthe cover 38 entirely therearound with the top end of the linerapproximately fully expanded. Directly beneath the base 41 and thetubular fitting 40 the upper margin of the liner 44 is inwardly deviatedas indicated at 47 in FIG. 6 so that the liner is secured to the coverbeneath the solid portion of the base 41 between the divergent passages42 and 43.

This leaves the outer and larger passage 42 communicating with theinterior of the canister but outside the wall of the liner, while theinner and smaller passage 43 communicates with the interior of theliner. Thus, when the tube 40 is connected to the suction line, theinitial suction will be stronger outside the liner than inside until thevacua of the flexible liner and the canister are countervailed,whereupon the liner will remain in expanded condition. Filtering meansmay be incorporated in the passages 42 and 43 if so desired, asindicated in FIG. 6.

In order to protect the hospital vacuum system, which systems areusually built-in, a safety valve assembly is provided within the liner44. This assembly includes a housing 48 having an opened upper endsecured by fusion, adhesive, or any other desired manner to theunderface of the cover 38 from which the housing depends in position tobe in open communication with the inside passage 43 of the tube assembly40. A valve seat 49 having a central aperture 50 therein extends acrossthe upper portion of the casing and below that valve seat the casing isprovided with a series of apertures 51 therearound. The bottom of thecasing 48 is closed around a tube 52 which projects into the casing to apoint below the valve seat 49. The end of the tube within the housing iscovered by a relatively light diaphragm 53, of rubber or equivalentmaterial, and preferably having the shape of a blunt cone. Thisdiaphragm 53 is the safety valve itself. As seen in FIG. 6 the tube 52extends well below the inner end of the tube 39 which connects with thepatients body. During operation, the valve will be in the position seenin FIG. 6 and suction is effective to the interior of the liner 44through the hole 50 in the valve seat and the apertures 51 in the wallof the housing 48. However, through the neglect, carelessness or for anyother reason should the liner 44 become filled with drainage to thepoint it might overflow and the drainage enter the hospital suctionsystem, the valve will assume the position seen in FIG. 7 and close theport 50 in the valve seat so that suction to the interior of the lineris no longer effective. This is caused by liquid rising within the tube52, compressing the air therein since the vacuum is not perfect but onlyto a desired degree and when that air pressure reaches a certain pointit will cause the valve to reverse from the position of FIG. 6 andassume the position of FIG. 7. No drainage will enter the line leadingto the patients body through the tube 19 since before the collecteddrainage reaches that point the valve will have operated.

Preferably above the point to where it is possible to fill the liner 44with drainage, the liner is provided with a tear-out section 54 definedby a line of weakening 55, this line being pointed at the starting endas indicated at 56 to facilitate easy removal of the section 54. Toefiect the removal of this section, a tear-strip 57 is provided on theoutside of the liner and sealed to the section 54 at the weakened line55. In some cases it is desirable to empty the liner 44 before disposingof the same and this is especially desirable when the accumulateddrainage is of a heavy viscous character.

It is apparent that the cover 38, the liner 44, the safety valveassembly, and the fittings 39 and 40 are all assembled as an integralunit, the entire unit being disposed of and replaced by a new unit afterthe liner is filled with drainage. To facilitate handling the unit,diametrically opposed brackets 57-57 or any other desirable connectingmeans may be provided, preferably on the skirt 38a of the cover, towhich a bail 58 is pivotally connected. Also, the liner is provided witha bail 59 on the bottom thereof, which bail may be in the form of aplastic strap fused to the bottom of the liner.

In use, this embodiment of the invention is highly effective, timesaving, and entirely safe from the standpoint of contamination of eitherthe apparatus associated with the liner or the operator handling thesame. The liner and canister are assembled in the manner seen in FIGS.and 6, and the tube 39 connected to the tube leading from the patientsbody, and the tube 40 connected to the suction system. Operation is thenin effect in a minimum amount of time and labor. When the liner becomesfilled to the extent possible with drainage or no further drainage isnecessary, it is a simple expedient to disconnect the lines from thetubes 39 and 40 and with the aid of the bail 58 lift the cover 38 andliner off and out of the canister and either dispose of the same orempty the liner of drainage before disposal. The liner may be emptiedeasily and safely by suspending the cover and liner unit over thedrainage sink with the aid of the bail 58, tear out the section 54 ofthe liner then grasp the liner by the bottom bail 59, and invert theunit over the sink until it empties. It will be noted that during thisoperation none of the contents of the liner will be in contact with thehands of the operator. Likewise there can be no contamination of thelines leading to the suction system or to the patients body by virtue ofoverflow, since such is efi'ectively and automatically prevented by thesafety valve 53. After removal of the cover-liner unit from thecanister, a new unit may be easily inserted and connected in the mannerabove described. No sterilization of the canister or lines leadingthereto is necessary, since nothing can become contaminated.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. Drainage collecting apparatus for receiving exudates from the body ofa patient, including a canister,

a removable cover for the canister,

a disposable liner receiver for removable insertion in said canister,

tubular means for connecting the interior of the liner through saidcover to a tube leading from the body of a patient, and

means for placing the interior of both the canister outside the linerand the liner in communication with a suction system.

2. The collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the canister is rigidand the liner is of thinner material, flexible and collapsible, and ismaintained expanded when the vacua in the liner and canister arecountervailed.

3. The collecting apparatus of claim 1, including a safety valve insidesaid liner to automatically limit the extent to which said liner can befilled with body exudates.

4. The collecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tubular means andthe last said means are mounted in said cover and disposable therewith.

5. The collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover and liner aresecured together and disposable as a unit. said opening 6. Thecollecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said canister has an opening inthe bottom thereof, a seal on the bottom of said liner sized forcompressive insertion in said opening, and drain tube means extendingthrough said seal and the bottom of said liner, whereby when said lineris placed in said canister with said drain tube means extending throughsaid opening a pull thereon will draw seal into opening in an airtightengagement.

7. The collecting apparatus of claim 6, wherein said tubular meansincludes a tubular portion extending to a point above but near thebottom of said liner, and said drain tube means extends into said linerto a point above the lower end of said tubular portion, whereby aneffective water seal may be established in said liner.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said receiver has a bottom, asealing element secured to said bottom to establish a friction seal withan opening in the container, and drain tube means extending through saidsealing element and said bottom.

9. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said tubular means and said draintube means extend within said receiver overlapping distances adjacentsaid bottom, whereby an effective water. seal may be established withinsaid receiver.

10. A disposable unit for association with a canister to receive bodyexudates, including a cover for the canister, a liner receiver dependingfrom said cover and having a closed bottom for insertion in thecanister,

tubular means carried by said cover for connecting the interior of theliner to a tube leading from the body of a patient, and v other tubularmeans carried by said cover for placing the interior of the canisteroutside said liner and the interior of said liner in communication witha suction system.

11. The disposable unit of claim 10, wherein said cover is of thin rigidmaterial and said liner is of thin flexible material.

12. The disposable unit of claim 10, including a safety valve in saidliner to automatically limit the extent to which said liner can befilled with body exudates to prevent any overflow into either of saidtubular means.

13. The disposable unit of claim 12, wherein said safety valve acts toclose off communication between the interior of said liner and thesuction system when the liner is filled to a predetermined extent.

14. The disposable unit of claim 10, including a tearout section nearone liner end defined by a line of weakening, and a tear-tab secured tosaid section exteriorly of said liner to remove the section and providea drainage port.

15. The disposable unit of claim 14, including a safety valve in saidliner to limit the extent to which said liner can be filled, and whereinsaid tear-out section is disposed above the limit controlled by saidsafety valve.

16. The disposable unit of claim 15, including a carrying bail securedexternally to the bottom of said liner to support the same duringdrainage through said port.

17. A receiver for body fluids, comprising:

a flexible body closed at the top and bottom thereof and adapted to bereceived in a container;

tubular inlet means extending through the top'of said receiver forconnection with a source of body fluid;

connecting means in the top of said receiver to establish communicationbetween the interior of said receiver and the interior of a containeroutside of the receiver and a source of suction whereby to effectcountervailing of vacua; and

said receiver being of such economical construction as to warrant itsdisposal after a single usage.

18. A receiver according to claim 28, in which said connecting meanscomprise a tubular element projecting externally of said top and havingdivergent passages one of which opens through the top to the interior of.said body and the other of which opens outwardly of said body.

19. A vacuum bottle assembly for use in draining fluids from a patientby suction apparatus, comprising a generally rigid container having ahollow interior;

a drainage bag in the container interior; and support means extendingacross the top of the container interior connected to said bag forsupporting the bag in suspended position in the interior of thecontainer, said support including conduit means extendin between the haand th container exterior to a n area to be draned ant? between the bagand the exterior of the container to a source of reduced pressure andfurther including means communicating the container interior with asource of reduced pressure. 20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein thedrainage bag is made of a generally flexible, collapsible material.

Patent No. 3,680,560 Dated August 1, 1972 Inventor(s) Kari A. Pannier,Jr. Gordon S. Reynolds and James L.

Sorenson It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 8, line 42, after "'unit" read in a period (J and strike "saidopening"o Column 8, iine 50, before "seai" read in said", and before"opening" read in "sai Coiumfi 8, line 63, for "26" read "8" Column 10,line 15, for 28" read '17".

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 19 73 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT-TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 h u.s. GOVERNMENTmomma orncz: was 0-366-33

1. Drainage collecting apparatus for receiving exudates from the body ofa patient, including a canister, a removable cover for the canister, adisposable liner receiver for removable insertion in said canister,tubular means for connecting the interior of the liner through saidcover to a tube leading from the body of a patient, and means forplacing the interior of both the canister outside the liner and theliner in communication with a suction system.
 2. The collectingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the canister is rigid and the liner is ofthinner material, flexible and collapsible, and is maintained expandedwhen the vacua in the liner and canister are countervailed.
 3. Thecollecting apparatus of claim 1, including a safety valve inside saidliner to automatically limit the extent to which said liner can befilled with body exudates.
 4. The collecting apparatus of claim 3,wherein said tubular means and the last said means are mounted in saidcover and disposable therewith.
 5. The collecting apparatus of claim 1,wherein the cover and liner are secured together and disposable as aunit. said opening
 6. The collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidcanister has an opening in the bottom thereof, a seal on the bottom ofsaid liner sized for compressive insertion in said opening, and draintube means extending through said seal and the bottom of said liner,whereby when said liner is placed in said canister with said drain tubemeans extending through said opening a pull thereon will draw seal intoopening in an airtight engagement.
 7. The collecting apparatus of claim6, wherein said tubular means includes a tubular portion extending to apoint above but near the bottom of said liner, and said drain tube meansextends into said liner to a point above the lower end of said tubularportion, whereby an effective water seal may be established in saidliner.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said receiver has a bottom,a sealing element secured to said bottom to establish a friction sealwith an opening in the container, and drain tube means extending throughsaid sealing element and said bottom.
 9. The apparatus of claim 26,wherein said tubular means and said drain tube means extend within saidreceiver overlapping distances adjacent said bottom, whereby aneffective water seal may be established within said receiver.
 10. Adisposable unit for association with a canister to receive bodyexudates, including a cover for the canister, a liner receiver dependingfrom said cover and having a closed bottom for insertion in thecanister, tubular means carried by said cover for connecting theinterior of the liner to a tube leading from the body of a patient, andother tubular means carried by said cover for placing the interior ofthe canister outside said liner and the interior of said liner incommunication with a suction system.
 11. The disposable unit of claim10, wherein said cover is of thin rigid material and said liner is ofthin flexible material.
 12. The disposable unit of claim 10, including asafety valve in said liner to automatically limit the extent to whichsaid liner can be filled with body exudates to prevent any overflow intoeither of said tubular means.
 13. The disposable unit of claim 12,wherein said safety valve acts to close off communication between theinterior of said liner and the suction system when the liner is filledto a predetermined extent.
 14. The disposable unit of claim 10,including a tear-out section near one liner end defined by a line ofweakening, and a tear-tab secured to said section exteriorly of saidliner to remove the section and provide a drainage port.
 15. Thedisposable unit of claim 14, including a safety valve in said liner tolimit the extent to which said liner can be filled, and wherein saidtear-out section is disposed above the limit controlled by said safetyvalve.
 16. The disposable unit of claim 15, including a carrying bailsecured externally to the bottom of said liner to support the sameduring drainage through said port.
 17. A receiver for body fluids,comprising: a flexible body closed at the top and bottom thereof andadapted to be received in a container; tubular inlet means extendingthrough the top of said receiver for connection with a source of bodyfluid; connecting means in the top of said receiver to establishcommunication between the interior of said receiver and the interior ofa container outside of the receiver and a source of suction whereby toeffect countervailing of vacua; and said receiver being of sucheconomical construction as to warrant its disposal after a single usage.18. A receiver according to claim 28, in which said connecting meanscomprise a tubular element projecting externally of said top and havingdivergent passages one of which opens through the top to the interior ofsaid body and the other of which opens outwardly of said body.
 19. Avacuum bottle assembly for use in draining fluids from a patient bysuction apparatus, comprising a generally rigid container having ahollow interior; a drainage bag in the container interior; and supportmeans extending across the top of the container interior connected tosaid bag for supporting the bag in suspended position in the interior ofthe container, said support including conduit means extending betweenthe bag and the container exterior to an area to be drained and betweenthe bag and the exterior of the container to a source of reducedpressure and further including means communicating the containerinterior with a source of reduced pressure.
 20. The assembly of claim 19wherein the drainage bag is made of a generally flexible, collapsiblematerial.